Two-piece key

ABSTRACT

A TWO-PIECE KEY CONSTRUCTED TO HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS BULK AND WEIGHT THAN CONVENTIONAL KEYS SO THAT A NUMBER THEREOF CAN BE CARRIED WITHOUT INCONVENIENCE PROVIDING AN ELONGATED BLADE HAVING AN INTEGRAL SHANK AND A KEY MANIPULATING MEMBER RELEASABLY CONNECTABLE TO THE SHANK TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TURNING LEVERAGE FOR THE BLADE TO PERMIT READY MANIPULATION OF THE KEY DURING USE WITH A PLURALITY OF SIMILAR KEY BLADES BEING CONVENIENTLY CARRIED AND SELECTIVELY EMPLOYED WITH THE SINGLE KEY MANIPULATING MEMBER.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Akira Tajiri, 19371 E. Parlier Ave.,

Reedley, Calif. 93654 [21] Appl. No. 818,911 [22] Filed Apr. 24, i969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [54] TWO-PIECE KEY 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 70/395, 70/408, 70/457 [5 I] .Int. Cl E05!) 19/04 [50] Field of Search 70/395, 408, 456459, 396, 397

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 409,255 8/ l 889 Van Norman 70/457 2,653,492 9/1953 Abrams 76/110 3,349,589 10/1967 Fricke 70/395 FOREIGN PATENTS 564,099 11/1932 Germany 70/395 1,538,140 7/1968 France 70/408 Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Robert L Wolfe Attorney-Huebner and Worrel ABSTRACT: A two-piece key constructed to have substantially less bulk and weight than conventional keys so that a number thereof can be carried without inconvenience providing an elongated blade having an integral shank and a key manipulating member releasably connectable to the shank to provide sufficient turning leverage for the blade to permit ready manipulation of the key during use with a plurality of similar key blades being conveniently carried and selectively employed with the single key manipulating member.

1 TWO-PIECE KEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is the usual practice to carry a plurality of conventional keys on a single key chain. If the key chain has a relatively large number of keys disposed thereon, the substantial bulk and weight of the keys make them difficult conveniently to carry. The principal weight in conventional keys is in the handles which are relatively large to provide turning leverage, to provide key identification, to designate key blanks for reproduction purposes, and for aesthetic purposes. It was recognized that the weight and bulk of such conventional keys could be substantially reduced if the handle portions thereof were removable when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, relatively lightweight key.

Another object is top rovide such an improved, lightweight key which affords substantially less bulk than conventional keys. v Another object is to provide an improved, lightweight key of the character described which has a removable handle.

Another object is to provide an improved, lightweight key having 'a separable blade and handle. so that a plurality of such 'key blades can be mounted on a single key chain and selectively employed with the single handle on the key chain.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing, a two-piece key.

embodying the principles of the present invention is shown providing an elongated key blade constructed of a substantially flat key blank having a plurality of elongated, longitudinally extended grooves 11 and tumbler actuating ridges and notches l2 edgewardly formed therein in the usual manner. The blade includes an integral, substantially square shank 14 having only a slightly wider dimension than the blade. A key chain receiving opening 15 is substantially centrally formed through the shank.

An elongated key chain 16 of conventional construction'is adapted to be passed through the opening 15 in the shank 14 with the ends of the key chain interconnected by a conventional locking device 17- to preclude inadvertent removal of the blade 10 therefrom.

A separate handle 20 is provided for' assembly with the blade 10 to permit the key to be manipulated in the usual manner. The handle is of substantially rectangular configuration and may be formed of molded plastic or of the same material as the blade 10. The handle provides opposite front and rear sides 22 and 23, respectively. A substantially square relatively narrow socket 25 is formed in the front side 22 of the handle and terminatesjust short ofthe rear side 23 thereof and is ofa size only slightly larger than the shank l4 ofthe key blade 10. A notch 26 is formed through the handle 20 in a direction substantially right-angularly related to the plane of the socket 25 and substantially centrally thereof in alignment with the opening 15 in the shank 14 of the blade 10. This permiLs full insertion'of the shank into the socket with the key chain 16 passing through the notch 26.

An elongated mounting tab 28 is endwardly extended from the handle 20 to provide a key chain receiving hole 30 for mounting the handle'on the same key chain as the key blade 10. As best shown in the dashed lines of FIG. 1, a plurality of key blades substantially similar to the key blade 10 can be concurrently mounted on the single key chain 16.

OPERATION The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. As described, a plurality of the key blades 10 can be mounted on the single key chain 16 with the substantially smaller shank 14 thereof being substituted for the conventional, substantially larger handle which represents more than a 50 percent reduction in the. weight of each key. When a large number of keys is disposed upon the key chain, the aggregate savings in weight and bulk is appreciable.

During use, the selected key blade 10 is easily manipulated to insert the shank portion 14 into the socket 25 of the handle 20. During such assembly, the portion of the key chain 16 passing through the' hole 15 in the shank l4 slides easily into the notch 26 "in the socket without requiring either the key blade 10 or the handle 20 to be removed from the key chain. Thus assembled, the handle provides sufficient turning leverage for manipulation of the key within its corresponding lock cylinder, not shown. Thereafter, the key blade 10 is readily removable from the lock by the imposition of an outward pulling force upon the key chain passing through the shank of the blade. Furthermore, various means may be provided for identifying different keys on the key chain by providing notches or other distinctive marks along the sides or ends of the key blades, by utilizing variously colored keys, and by providing distinctive length and shape to the key blades.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention provides an improved, two-piece key which affords substantially less weight and bulk than conventional keys. The releasable handle structure of the present invention permits a relatively large number of keys to be mounted upon a single key chain with a single handle also disposed upon the same chain for alternate use with selected keys.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A two-piece key comprising an elongated blade having an integral shank providing a key chain receiving opening; a key manipulating handle having a socket into which said shank of the blade is releasably slidably receivable to provide turning leverage for the blade and to permitready manipulation of the key during use so that a plurality of similar key blades can be conveniently carried and selectively employed with the single handle, said handle further providing a key chain receiving opening therein in spaced relation from said socket; a key chain extendible through said opening in the handle and through the openings of a plurality of such shanks; and means in said handle to accommodate the portion of the key chain passing through the shank of a selected blade to permit unrestricted assembly of the shank into the socket of the handle.

2. The two-piece key of claim I in which said handle is constructed in a substantially flat rectangular form with said socket being similarly formed and disposed in the plane of the handle, and an edgewardly disposed notch extended through the handle in a plane substantially perpendicular to said plane of the socket and aligned with said opening in the shank of the blade when the shank is inserted into said socket of the handle to accommodate the portion of said key chain passing through said opening in the shank to permit assembly of the selected blade and handle while both are mounted on the key chain.

3. The combination of a plurality of elongated blades each having a lock operating portion and an integral shank, a

through said handle, and a key chain extended through said openings in interconnecting relation between said handle and said plurality'of blades.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said means further includes a notch in said handle communicating with said socket therein to accommodate the portion of said key chain passing through said opening in the shank of the blades during said selective mounting of the blades in the handle. 

